Why Partner with Wayside?

  • Build lasting relationships
  • Put your company values to work
  • It’s the right thing to do
  • Increase employee engagement
  • Boost company morale

Looking for other ways to get involved? We offer volunteer opportunties, employee giving campaigns, event sponsorhip, and more!

Corporate Volunteerism

Volunteers are utilized to ensure we are able to meet the ongoing needs of the shelter.  Training is required to work directly with the animals, however animal cuddles are included during the visit. Most projects will consist of daily tasks, event support, and other needs at the time. Group volunteering is a great tool for team building and getting involved with the community!

Employee Giving

Is your company or organization ready to put their philanthropic passion into action? Employee giving is a great way to support employees at your company who are already passionate about a cause. A few ways companies can promote employee giving include:

  • Matching Gifts
  • Volunteer Grants
  • In-Kind Donations
  • Internal Employee Fundraising

Get creative! At Wayside, we are open to creative ways of fundraising for the animals. Check out our DIY fundraising tool!

Event Sponsorship

Wayside Waifs has two annual signature events, Fur Ball and Strutt With Your Mutt, offering many corporate opportunities for brand awareness through various marketing and event materials. Event sponsorships go directly back to provide care for the thousands of homeless animals Wayside cares for each year.

Fur Ball

Fur Ball Gala is Wayside’s largest special event fundraiser of the year, raising $1.3 million towards Wayside’s overall operating budget. Each year, Fur Ball has a new theme making our event one of the most popular and downright FUN social events in Kansas City. Some previous themes include: Cinco de Meow, Beach Paw-ty, Alice in WaysideLand, Bone-anza and Hawaii Fido.

In addition to a different theme each year, the Fur Ball features a gourmet dinner, 18 hosted open bars, amazing silent and live auctions, cuddly puppies and kittens, and live entertainment.

Table sponsorshops start at $2,500 and tickets are $250 each.

Strutt With Your Mutt

Strutt With Your Mutt is Kansas City’s largest dog-friendly 3K and 5K walk/run and Wayside’s signature fall fundraiser. We welcome over 50+ local pet-related vendors and more than 1,500 participants and their furry friends. Strutt With Your Mutt raises $185,000 towards Wayside’s operating budget.

The event takes place in the beautiful Brookside neighborhood. We encourage corporate partners to start a team and recruit their staff and families to join their team. Strutt is a true celebration of the bonds between people and their pets.

Vendor booths are $250

Sponsorships start at $1,000

Team Registrations are as low as $25 per person

 

Contact Us

Contact us today to start building a partnership that will help save thousands of homeless animals while celebrating your company’s core values. We look forward to working with you to build your volunteer experiences that align employee needs and community impact priorities.

Contact Morgan Edmiston, Community Engagement Coordinator by email or click the button below to fill out your inquiry and get started! 

FAQ

When are group volunteer projects offered?

Group projects are typically offered Monday-Friday. Time frames may vary, depending on what works best for your team and shelter needs at the time.

How many people can volunteer in a group?

We can accommodate up to 20 people per group.  Multiple visits can be set up, if desired.

Will my team be able to interact with the animals while volunteering?

Volunteer projects will be hands off the animals, but animal cuddles will be included during the tour.

We are interested in having some animals come to our office to boost morale. Do you offer office pet visits?

Yes, Wayside can accommodate 1-2 hours office pet visit exchanges for a $500 monetary donation. The donation can be made directly from the company or fundraised within your staff. We see many companies use the opportunity to have pets visit their office as a way to utilize Employee Giving to raise funds for the animals. (I.E. Jeans Day, Raffles, Holiday party, Cutest Pet Contest). Please contact Morgan Edmiston about an office visit here.

How can we get involved with Strutt With Your Mutt?

Start a team! One of the easiest and most fun ways is to build a team of staff and their families. If you have a company wellness committee, Strutt is an awesome option to get your people moving forward and engaging with each other outside of the office. Strutt also offers sponsorships starting at $1,000 with competitive benefits. Contact Paige Cooper for help registering your team here.

How can I find out if my company matches gifts?

Well, just ask them! If you’re not sure who to ask, check out Double the Donation’s company search. If will tell you match amounts, employee eligibility, additional information, volunteering matches, and contact information. Search your company here.

Wayside Waifs

3901 Martha Truman Road
Kansas City, MO 64137
816-761-8151

Adoption Hours

Monday: Closed
Tuesday-Friday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Connect With Us

Sign Up for Email

You’ll receive our newsletter, “The Fire Hydrant,” special features on our Waifs of the Week, info on events, and more.